People stroll the grounds during the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Bar-B-Que Cook-Off & Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013.

The 18th annual Bar-B-Que Cook-Off & Festival has settled into its new stomping grounds — and new season.

The event, sponsored by the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, took place the last weekend of January, but organizers had to find a new venue after SeaWorld, where it has been for three years, decided to stay open for winter.

Jenny Reeves, public relations director for the barbecue committee, said 250 volunteers pulled the event together in three months.

Reeves said Friday and Saturday were the only days that the AT&T grounds and parking lots were available to accommodate the cook-off.

“From now on, we'll be here during the last weekend of September,” Reeves said. “We put about $100,000 into the S.A.L.E. (San Antonio Livestock Exposition) scholarship fund every year, so this event is a big deal for us. And it's all volunteers; we get as much donated as we can.”

She said her group teamed up with the Fall Fest committee to offer the public a festival atmosphere with two heats of mutton bustin,' for children ages 4 to 7, a kid zone and live music. Two Bros. BBQ Market offered the crowd free barbecue plates with admission.

The event started in 1996 with 32 barbecue cooking teams; now it features 250 teams competing for up to $14,000 in cash, ribbons and bragging rights, she said. The grand champion will get an invitation to compete at the Houston Stock Show & Rodeo barbecue cook-off.

Scott Wiatrek, from the Preferred Landscape and Lighting team, took a break from grilling to talk to volunteers on a midway heavy with the smell of smoky barbecue.

As he talked about raising funds for scholarships, teams with names such as “Saucy Chicks,” and “Team Fatboy,” hunkered in lawn chairs around trailers and under tarps lining the grounds.